EVERETT — For almost two quarters, Jackson stayed right with Mariner during last week’s critical Western Conference 4A South Division football clash.
But in the last five minutes of the second quarter, the Marauders scored three unanswered touchdowns and went on to defeat the Timberwolves 35-6 and claim the South Division’s No. 2 berth to the district playoffs Nov. 7 at Everett Memorial Stadium.
Mariner took a 7-0 lead on a 61-yard run by running back Michael Nelson at the 4:29 mark of the second quarter.
Following the kickoff, the Wolf Pack took the ball over at its 40. On the first play from scrimmage, Mariner’s Jerod Grant recovered a fumble by Jackson quarterback Jason Morris in midair and ran it back 33 yards for a momentum shifting touchdown.
“It really hurts to give up a quick score on a sudden change like that,” said Jackson coach Joel Vincent. “At that point we’re thinking ‘It’s not a big deal,’” Vincent said. “We can catch up, and to fumble in the air and have them catch it and take it back for a score, it was real deflating for our kids.
“The next thing you know we’re down a couple of scores. It was catch up from there on out.”
The Timberwolves were forced to punt on their next offensive possession and Mariner took over on its own 30 with 1:20 remaining in the half. Three plays later Marauder quarterback Moa Palepale lofted a 45-yard touchdown pass that Tommy Craddock pulled down over the outstretched arms of a Jackson defender.
Mariner then went to the ground to start the third quarter, running the ball 13 straight plays before having a 23-yard field goal blocked. The Wolf Pack offense finally stepped out onto the artificial turf with 3:41 remaining in the third quarter.
“It’s tough when they run the ball as effectively as they do because we know as long as they have the ball we know we can’t score,” Vincent said. “We were hoping defensively to come out in the second half and force them into three and out or at least some shorter drives.
“They chewed up eight minutes off the clock and that’s a good job on their part.”
Jackson was unable to move the ball most of the night. The problem was the offensive line’s inability to control the line of scrimmage.
Morris often was on the run from Mariner defenders.
“We didn’t control them up front and it’s hard to win the ball when you don’t control the line play,” Vincent said. “It seemed at times that it was literally a jailbreak up front. We’d snap the ball and we’re not even hitting our third step and Jason’s having to evacuate the pocket.”
The Jackson defense had a major hand in the Timberwolves’ lone touchdown. Travis Snider recovered a fumble at the Jackson 45 and returned it 41 yards to the Mariner 15. Two plays later, running back C.J. Marsh scored on a 2-yard run.
Jackson’s priority in the offseason is for the line to get stronger, Vincent said. Mariner simply dominated the play in the trenches.
“Nine times out of 10 in football, you do that, you’re going to win,” Vincent said. “We need to get bigger and stronger. The only way that’s going to happen is we’ve got to get in the weight room and work at it in the offseason through the year.”
Jackson (4-5) needed a victory to have any chance of advancing to the district playoffs. But as it turns out, the Wolf Pack still would not have made the playoffs because Shorewood (6-3) defeated Edmonds-Woodway (6-3), which eliminated the Timberwolves.
Kamiak wrapped up its second straight divisional title with a victory over Everett. Mariner was the No. 2 seed and Shorewood was No. 3 seed.
The game was the final appearance for several players expected to move on to the college ranks including Morris, Marsh, Richy Mulcahy and Brandon Roberts. Wide receiver Craig Chambers already has verbally committed to the University of Washington.
“They’re going to leave a big void,” Vincent said of his seniors. “They’ve done some quality things … they’ve put up numbers that are going to be in our record book for a while.”
Graduation will hit the Timberwolves hard but Vincent sees a lot of talent in the underclassmen.
“We like the way the future looks,” he said.
At Everett Memorial Stadium
Mariner0 21 0 7 — 35
Jackson0 0 0 6 — 6
M—Nelson 61 run (Mishima kick)
M—Grant 33 fumble return (Mishima kick)
M—Craddock 45 pass from Palepale (Mishima kick)
M—Evans 1 run (Mishima kick)
J—Marsh 2 run (kick failed)
M—Cartwright 14 run (Mishima kick)
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
